A male teacher at an elementary school in the prefecture of Gifu has been punished for saving and possessing child porn on his phone.
The unnamed 33-year-old educator was suspended for four months, starting May 23, according to Japanese media reports.
The school is located in the small city of Kani in the landlocked prefecture.
The education board gave a press conference in which it attempted to explain the situation, noting that the teacher had downloaded two videos and an image to his phone between October three years ago until September last year “in order to satisfy his sexual urges.” Apparently, adding that final part was necessary.
The content is classifiable as child porn, though the teacher claims not to be aware of this. He purchased the content online for ¥400.
“We deeply apologize for this act that betrays the trust of children and guardians,” the board commented, though did not explain why the teacher still has a job or what will happen after the four-month suspension is over.
In April, police handed down a summary indictment for violation the child pornography law, and the teacher was ordered by a court in Tajimi to pay a fine of ¥300,000.
A conviction for violating such a law in Japan would seemingly not result in automatic dismissal or a ban on doing a job where you are around kids.
Given the attention the case has attracted, though, we assume the teacher’s position is not tenable and he won’t return to work after his suspension is over.
